CROSSFIRE
how different were french & spanish light infantry to the 95th?
Unlike line infantry, Spanish light infantry operated as single battalion units, and consisted of six enlarged companies of 206 men. Known as cazadores, which translates as hunters, they were armed with a musket, rather than a rifle, and bayonet, and thus could not replicate the range or accuracy of Bakerequipped riflemen. From 1805 light infantry uniforms reflected the blue-coated line infantry of the Spanish army, the only difference being the green plume on their bicorne. This uniform was not universally liked, impeding the soldier with its long tailcoat, sabre and stiff cravat, which limited movement and agility. French skirmishers were known as voltigeurs, or ‘vaulters’ in English, because originally it was theorised that these men would jump onto the backs of horses to enable greater speed of movement. This quickly proved impractical, but the name stuck and they were retrained as skirmishers. In 1804 each French battalion was ordered to create one company of around 90 men composed of the best shots, who would serve as elite skirmishers. With the reorganisation of the army in 1807 each voltigeur company was enlarged to
120 men. The French, like the British, also employed whole battalions of light infantry, known as chasseurs, and although these men performed admirably as skirmishers, it was the voltigeurs who were considered the elite.
Their uniform was the traditional blue coat with yellow collar and cuffs piped red. Red and green epaulettes and yellow bugle horns on the turnbacks completed the jacket. Armed with a slightly modified version of the model 1777 musket and bayonet, they also carried a short sword known as a sabre-briquet.
The tactics employed by the French and Spanish varied little from the British, except in Napoleon’s opposition to issuing his soldiers with rifles.